Highlights
- The Nintendo Switch's flexible play options made it a fan favorite, leading to a variety of engaging games on the platform.
- With classics like Resident Evil 4 and new favorites like Cult of the Lamb, the Nintendo Switch has a diverse library of high-quality games.
When Nintendo unveiled the Switch, people were excited, to say the least — excited, but cautious. After the Wii U's rocky life and less-than-desired sales, this could have been another disappointing attempt at something new. However, as is well known today, the Nintendo Switch quickly became one of the most popular consoles available, and still dominates the industry.
The Best Open World Games On The Nintendo Switch
Explore exciting and vast new horizons with some of the best open-world games on the Nintendo Switch.
With the option to either play at home on the TV or take it with you at any time, the simple feature was something everyone kept loving, and so more and more games made their way to the hybrid console. With ports, remasters, and plenty of original titles, these are the best Nintendo Switch games of all time.
While judging games as the 'best of all time' is subjective, we've tried to be objective here, considering gameplay, narrative, and the overall experience these Nintendo Switch titles offer.
We're also including some games that aren't exclusive to Nintendo Switch, but are essential to experience nonetheless.
Updated on May 25, 2024 by Rebecca Phillips: The Nintendo Switch's catalog is absolutely bursting with amazing games. Take a look at our list of the best games on the console, and you may just find a new favorite for yourself.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Check out our 4 / 5 review of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door!
A faithful remake of the original 2004 title, the Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is everything fans could have wanted. The graphics have been updated to be shiny and new, but the charm that captivated fans all those years ago is still there and better than ever.
The story follows Mario on an adventure to collect Crystal Stars and eventually open the titular Thousand-Year Door, all in a bid to uncover a lost kingdom. Along the way, Mario is joined by a variety of memorable party members. TTYD has fun turn-based battles, humorous dialogue, and great characters — everything you could need from a Mario RPG.
Dave The Diver
Taking elements from RPGs and management titles, Dave the Diver is a fun adventure where you spend your days exploring the ocean, searching for fish and other sea creatures, and then return to land in the evening to run a sushi restaurant. Dave sure has a packed schedule, huh?
Exploration and progression is satisfying as you adventure into the depths and grow your restaurant. There are even bosses to fight while you're in the ocean, so you'll need to be prepared for combat, too. Dave the Diver offers a bit of everything — adventure, simulation, battles — so you're bound to find something in it that appeals to your tastes.
Sea Of Stars
Check out our 4.5 / 5 review of Sea of Stars!
Sea of Stars celebrates pixel RPGs with a modern twist. It's clearly inspired by the likes of Chrono Trigger with its gorgeous pixel art style and turn-based combat, but it offers a new and different experience. The story follows the Children of the Solstice, the only two able to take a stand against The Fleshmancer and his monsters.
The best parts of Sea of Stars are its exploration and combat. You won't tire of exploring this rich world, and battles are dynamic, engaging, and most importantly, downright fun. If you're into the '90s era of RPGs, give this one a try.
Unicorn Overlord
Check out our 4.5 / 5 review of Unicorn Overlord!
There's been something of a resurgence of tactical RPGs thanks to the likes of Tactics Ogre: Reborn and the Fire Emblem series, and while Unicorn Overlord is certainly similar to these titles, it's not just following trends. Right off the bat, it has gorgeous graphics, so every battle is a visual treat.
More than that, though, its battle mechanics are what's going to keep you engaged after that initial first impression. It excellently uses real-time strategy (RTS) and team management, with the addition of tactics to determine how all your characters will act in each battle. If you're looking for classic tactical RPG goodness with the polish of a modern title, give Unicorn Overlord a try.